Friday's letters: blue law, beer sales, Diane Ravitch, NASA, i-81

A beer sale miracle for the Book of Hops
To the Editor:
New York state did something right five years ago. A new law went into effect on July 30, 2006, that let stores sell beer starting at 8 a.m. on Sundays instead of having to wait until noon. Tailgaters and grocery shoppers after Sunday morning services rejoiced and said, “Hallelujah, the Law is risen.”

A reading from the Book of Hops:

It was Sunday morning and Mary and the tailgaters went to the store to get hot dogs and munchies. Mary wept because they forgot to get beer the day before. She went toward the condiment aisle and noticed that the lights were on in the beer display cases. The canvas curtains that had covered them were folded on the floor in the corner. Two attendants were removing the signs that restricted sales until noon.

As she approached, one of them said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said, “I can’t buy beer until 12.” “No, he replied, the Law is risen! Go tell your friends.” Mary ran back to the potato chip aisle and told the other tailgaters what she had seen.

They did not believe her for as yet they did not understand the legislation. Peter and the others then went to the beer display and they saw the lite. And the ale. And the lager, and they believed the Law had risen and grabbed a couple of 12 packs.

Give thanks and celebrate the anniversary of the blue law rising.

Ed Stronski
Liverpool

Involuntary transfer is attack plan vs. unions
To the Editor:
The front-page article July 19, “City tries to fix schools,” fails to explain why certain teachers were involuntarily transferred. The problem with your analysis is trying to find an educational reason for transferring dedicated, experienced teachers. Current school reform policy is primarily about politics and has very little to do with logical educational solutions.

The roots of this policy were developed and nurtured by John Boehner as part of the “No Child Left Behind” law. Republicans see teachers’ unions as a form of communism that should have been torn down with the Berlin Wall.

Diane Ravitch, assistant secretary of education for George Bush, stated in her recent book, “Republicans imagined that the schools of the future would function without unions, allowing management to hire and fire personnel at will.” This involuntary transfer strategy is the first step toward achieving that goal.

Joseph M. Russo
Syracuse

Cut entitlements and defense before NASA
To the Editor:
President Obama should hang his head in shame and all Americans should be angry about. Forty-two years and one day after Neil Armstrong’s “one small step for a man,” words, the USA has killed off its manned space flight program. We have abandoned the future (can there be any doubt that man is destined to colonize other worlds) to other countries.

For us to visit the International Space Station, we will have to pay the Russians to ferry us up there.

Obama is so concerned about jobs and the economy: how many jobs has he killed because he allowed the shuttle program to end without a successor vehicle and program at least in development — he killed the Ares/Constellation program last year.

Think about how many jobs would be created if he were to announce in a JFK manner that we should make it our goal to have a permanent moon base by 2020, or to land a human being on the surface of Mars and return him to the Earth by 2030? It is no exaggeration that it could create as many jobs as the defense industry and there would be loads of spin-off benefits to the public, as well.

Call our representatives and senators in Congress and tell them to fully support NASA and the space program, even if it means cutting back on defense spending or entitlement programs. Focus on the future.

Timothy O’Hare
Syracuse

I-81 tunnel is bad idea; but others will work
To the Editor:
Regarding the Interstate I-81 alternative:

From time to time, I see a few people write to The Post-Standard suggesting that we should build an underground tunnel through which I-81 should go. They at least agree that the present I-81 going through downtown Syracuse is dividing the city in two — on one side the “haves” and on the other side “have-nots.” This cannot continue.

What annoys me is the mere suggestion that we should dig an underground tunnel through which I-81 traffic would go. This is a ridiculous idea. They do not have to go far. See what happened in Boston when they undertook the tunnel project. The project was going to cost $400 million to $500 million, which ultimately cost them more than $2 billion! It also took a lot more time than originally allotted. Can one imagine the disruption it will create in our lives?

Do these people think that the DOT can afford such a huge project when the federal government is on the verge of a default and state, county city governments are in debt to the teeth? We are no longer a super economic power as we were during the last century. The sooner we accept this, the sooner we will be able to change with time.

There are easy solutions for the I-81 problem. The present I-481 from Cicero to I-81 South, near Loretto, should become I-81 and the present I-81 coming to downtown should become “Mahoney/Miner Parkway.” Traffic from the north with heavy truck traffic will bypass downtown completely and all the traffic jams and accidents happening so frequently will be avoided.

Only people who live and work in Syracuse will come to downtown. I am sure we have smart people in the DOT who know the simple solutions to this I-81 problem. They are silent as they do not want to be identified with one or other groups. I hope they come forward and give us their expert opinion and start working on the alternative before tragedy occurs if I-81 collapses.

Mansukh J. Shah
Liverpool

No more free rides, Congel; pay your taxes
To the Editor:
Bob Congel expects us to believe his fantasy. He would bring Syracuse a great mall that would do great wonders for Syracuse.

All he has brought is headaches. He expects to ride his carousel horses into the sunset.

We have to pay our share of taxes. What about Congel? He keeps on saying his company will build this and that. But nothing ever.

P.T. Barnum said it will be the biggest show on earth. Look what happened to him.

Pay your share of taxes like everybody else. Complete your promises to the
people. No more free rides; pay the taxes.

David Mickelsen
Syracuse

Shortened Lewis telethon still needs you
To the Editor:
I am writing this letter to let people know that the Jerry Lewis telethon will be shorter this year. The reason I’m writing about this is because Muscular Dystrophy — specifically ALS — affects my family directly.

My husband has had ALS for 15 years and we have gone through a lot in this struggle. We have always had great family and community support to help us get through. Sadly this struggle doesn’t get any easier and I feel it is important to make everyone aware that although the telethon is shortened, the need for support is not lessened.

If you would like to help, please donate to the MDA, or you can send your check written to the MDA to us and we can present it on air when we appear in September on the local telethon. We are grateful for all you can do and thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Pat and Sue Sullivan
Hannibal

Hats off to retiring Gates and columnist
To the Editor:
What a nice letter regarding Defense Secretary Robert Gates in The Post-Standard June 15. Sorry he retired, but I can understand. Why our leaders don’t seem to want to listen to him, I’m not sure. I hope Leon Panetta has half the brain and good sense this man has. He has big shoes to fill. I also would like to wish Gates well in his retirement.

Also, I really appreciated David Brooks’ June 15 column, “A pundit under protest.” I can’t blame him for protesting. It’s always the same old, same old. We need new blood, new ideas and trustworthy people, or at least term limits for politicians. They should work for the people they serve instead of spending all the money we don’t have. Leave Social Security alone. Government could pay it back — from borrowing from its funds.

Natalie C. Haggett
Syracuse

Robber barons greed explains cartoon’s loss
To the Editor:
The political cartoon July 3 pretends to be at a loss as to why the economy is not growing. Surely not everyone is baffled. The answer is absolute power and absolute greed. Corporate greed! The idea is to keep employment low in order to frustrate and control the next election.

The corporate robber barons of industry have billions in their coffers to put people to work. Their desire is to control the masses. The time is ripe to undermine and weaken public and unionized workers.

Wake up, America. The robber barons are systemically taking you out of the equation and deliberately holding back the economic recovery. This is their plan. It’s their investment in their future power. Middle- class Americans will go back to being servants to the wealthy lords.

Can’t you see what’s hapPening? The government will be bought and paid for.